Jamie Durie, Australia's king of indoor/outdoor living, is back with his tips on how to warm up your deck for winter, plus his new Transterior lighting and furniture range.

How lucky are we to be living in a country that really offers outdoor living year-round? Yet most of us don't make the most of our gardens in the cooler months. The addition of some heat and comforting luxuries makes all the difference in creating cosy al fresco get-togethers providing armour against the shorter, darker days.

Resort-style, yellow and amber lighting gives a warm, inviting glow to cosy up in the cooler months, extending your time living outdoors. Well-designed lighting within your garden can accentuate shapes, heighten textures and define spaces.

A fire is an instinctive focal point for people to gather. Photo – Tonya McCahon.

The fire has always been a natural gathering place for people. As a source of warmth it is automatically something that brings us together, but the cultural associations of security, storytelling and sharing of food at a fire are things you just don't get from any other heat source. Depending on your space and budget you could add a firepit, brazier, chiminea, radiant thermal heating, or gas and ethanol fuelled heating to your outdoor entertaining area.

And as a quick, easy fix you can't beat candles to give warmth and ambience to your outdoor room, and if they are scented with wood and spices, even better!